Hell

what we cannot fear
into existence

misunderstanding
not being heard

untold

what I choose to ignore

tumor swelling just beneath
skin
unacknowledged tissue
of all of us

smoldering hatred
untranslated
by rods & cones
felt in the sweat of
prejudicial eyes

weighty as father-sin

slow loss of breath
elevator scrapes to a permanent halt
halfway below
some ground
zero

permanent losing

dull empty ache

without.